That bugs me too, but the worst thing (in my eyes) seems to be the trend of breaking up complete, beautiful vintage kits and selling the individual drums. That REALLY bothers me. It's one thing if you have a lone tom or kick, but to split up a nice condition 4 or 5 piece kit, in the hopes that you'll make more money???

What's next... lets disassemble this mint condition black beauty and sell each individual part, cause I know someone will pay big bucks for the original butt plate and lugs????

That just seems like something a drummer would never do.

Yeah, that has been a huge discussion on other forums that leads to heated arguments.

I guess I will give my take on the topic and see what happens. We can always give the "To each his own" argument and say that people can do whatever they please with what they own. (Just a statement and does not mean I agree with it)

What is driving people to part out perfectly good drums?

Because there is a larger group of people that are wanting to complete project drums! They might have been waiting a year for the perfect part to appear on Ebay and when it does they are willing to spend big bucks!

If that one drum can fix 7 other drums then in some remote way it is helping the drums on a larger level. (This statement does not justify the parting of good drums, but gives another perspective!)

Now, with that said I think the majority of true vintage drum lovers would never part out a perfectly good snare so it is a select few and others that are not drummers at all.

Can we necessarily blame them to try and make a larger profit? Not really, we can just get annoyed by it and not do the same thing.

Other then that I have never done it and know many other collectors that will not do it and as long as the parts market remains at the current level non-drummers and drummers who really do not care about the drum but the money will continue to do it.

(Disclaimer)

By the way I'm closer to adding a large part of my parts collection in the store that I announced on a private email to members. All of those parts are from drums that had physical conditions or other missing parts. Some had cracked shells or problems with the finish in regards to cracking etc..

Soap Box

David

Webmaster

On the point about dealers breaking drums, at DM, we try to avoid breaking anything that's in good>mint condition. Sure, profitability is a motivator to disassemble, but if you could see how many mails we get asking for single lugs, hoops, badges etc then you'd realise that there are a significant number of drummers out there whose needs are satisfied by this activity.

Furthermore, we have had a 9/10 WMP Premier tom up for sale for nearly a year now and you probably wouldn't believe the number of mails we've had asking us if we'll sell the hoops, the badge, a lug, a couple of rods etc.

Are there really any 'no reserve' auctions? I've seen auctions pulled at the last minute, and the item re-listed with a starting price just above the last final bid.

Further to stripping drums for parts; I only break drums if the shell is unsalvageable. Over the last 5 years it has been two Pearl Export toms, a Carlton floor tom, New Era snare and Premier bass drum from all the drums that have passed through my hands.

But I have had a lot of emails from people wanting specific vintage Sonor parts and as Mike has alluded to, I've also had people asking for individual drums from kits, or parts from drums I'm advertising.

It's a subject that will always court controversy, without any real right or wrong answer.

One thing that annoys me is when people damage shells beyond repair when they add items. I've seen some shocking sights from DIY bodge jobs.

If you've ever been to a "real live" auction you know that there is almost always a "starting bid" so why not on eBay! I hate to see a collectable set broken up, player pieces are a different thing in my view.

Hmmmm

Just my two cents...I try not to break up vintage kits. Seems a waste. However I did part a Tama Swingstar kit that someone ripped the wrap off of....course thats hardly vintage.